Notre Dame vs. Michigan Preview

May 10, 2008 – 12:09 pm
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a Comment

Michigan will be a much different team than any other Michigan team that Notre Dame has seen. With LLLoyd Carr’s retirement, Michigan went out and stole Rodriguez from West Virginia. He has brought his Spread offense to Michigan that he ran so well with Pat White at quarterback and Steve Slaton at running back, while at West Virginia.

Rich Rodriguez lost a lot of offensive firepower when he arrived with the loss of Ryan Mallett to Arkansas and both Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington to the NFL Draft. He is left with two untested quarterbacks in Steve Threet, a transfer from Georgia Tech, and Nick Sheridan. Both quarterbacks did not show much in the Spring game, but count on Threet being the signal caller when they meet Notre Dame on September 13. I highly doubt that Michigan will be running on all cylinders by the time they reach South Bend, so look for Notre Dame’s defense to neutralize Michigan’s offense. Let’s hope that Threet looks like Demetrius Jones in our loss to Georgia Tech last year, when they face us.

The rest of their offense is pretty green, though their offensive line does look to have quite a bit of potential, if not that much experience, even with the loss of Justin Boren to Ohio State. Taking over for Mike Hart will be Brandon Minor and a newly healed Kevin Grady. Their receiving corps will be led by wide out Greg Mathews.

Expect Michigan’s defense to be solid this year. They looked fast in the Spring game, though much of that may be due to their sputtering offense. They return a lot of starters from last year, so our offense will have a much harder time moving the ball than against San Diego State. If Notre Dame has trouble with San Diego State, we might be in for a long afternoon.

Notre Dame will be able to avenge the last two embarrassing losses to Michigan this year.

Early Prediction: Notre Dame 24 Michigan 17

Links

Rodriguez has lots to worry about
New Faces Dot Offense
Threet Outperforms Sheridan at quarterback; Defense Rules in the End
Rodriguez Preaches Patience at Michigan Spring Game

Audio Links

Rodriguez on WTKA 4/1/08

Video Links

Rich Rodriguez Spring Practice Press Conference
Michigan Spring Game Hilights
Chalk Talk with Rich Rodriguez

Notre Dame versus San Diego State Preview

May 7, 2008 – 7:14 pm
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a Comment

San Diego State will come in to play Notre Dame on Saturday, September 6 in South Bend after having played Cal Poly the week before. They will be decidedly worse this coming season than they were the last, having lost their do everything quarterback, Kevin O’Connell?. O’Connell?, drafted in the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, led the team in passing (3063 yards, 15 TDs) and rushing (408 yards, 11 TDs).

This year they will be starting redshirt freshman, Ryan Lindley, who did not see action last year. Along the offensive line, they will be starting 3 redshirt freshman as well at both tackle spots and at center. If Notre Dame’s 2007 Season taught us anything, it is that a freshman quarterback with an inexperienced offensive line equals trouble.

Along with their inexperience at quarterback and at offensive line, San Diego State lost two starting wide receivers, so Lindley will be passing to an untested corps of receivers. He will also be playing under a load of scrutiny, since he is a local San Diego State star that is expected to do big things.

Defense was a huge issue last year and looks to have not improved this year. They have some bright spots and potential in Ohio State transfer, Ryan Williams, defensive back Corey Boudreaux and linebacker Miles Burris, but have a severe lack of depth that should not have grown deeper by the Notre Dame game. Even with possibly a few too many practices, San Diego State will be too green to upset Notre Dame

A Notre Dame offense that was anemic in 2007 should have its way with San Diego State. On defense, the attacking style of defense brought by new linebackers coach, Jon Tenuta, should be too much for San Diego State and their young quarterback and offensive line.

Early Prediction: Notre Dame 35 San Diego State 10

Links

Lindley is SDSU’s No. 1 quarterback going into fall
Coach Long Press Conference Quotes
Aztecs Again Accused of Excess Drills
Long’s Aztecs red, black and green all over

Audio Link

Aztec Writer Tom Shanahan on San Diego State

Mike Hutton’s Misses Regarding Notre Dame

May 4, 2008 – 5:26 pm
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a Comment

Mike Hutton of the Gary Post Tribune writes about his misses in past columns. Highlighted below are those that pertain to Notre Dame:
June 2007

This is why it would be stunning if Jeff Samardzija decides to play baseball if the Cubs kept him on the mound. All I can say is: How would you like to have a 6-5 centerfielder who can run a 4.4 40-yard dash, hit with power, has the best hands perhaps of anyone his age anywhere and has a rocket arm?

Resolution: It’s probably a blooper. No way the Cubs are going to turn Samardzija into a center fielder now. They have too much invested in him as a pitcher. Scouts have told me that it’s time consuming for a guy to get his hitting stroke back if he hasn’t hit every day from high school until the minor leagues. I still like the idea. Can you say Rick Ankiel?
May 2006

David Halberstram just made his name for the worst of all reasons. The east coast executive for Westwood One Radio canned longtime Notre Dame radio announcer Tony Roberts. In a thoughtless move, at least given what we know about why he was let go (very little), Halberstram axed a broadcasting legend. If you were a Tony Roberts fan, you have to believe that in some way, Halberstram is going to pay for that act of insensitivity.

Resolution: I don’t like Don Criqui, the man who replaced Roberts, at all. I have no rational reason to loathe him except he was the guy that replaced Roberts. I doubt very much Roberts’ absence has hurt the Irish football broadcasts, just like Criqui’s place in the booth probably hasn’t made the Irish broadcasts appreciably better. It just proves it doesn’t really matter as long as they are professional. But it matters to me. I won’t listen to Criqui. Probably a groundout to second base.^
February 2007

Don’t, however, be fooled by Charlie Weis‘ message earlier this week about how he is going to rewrite his commitment letter to kids by further emphasizing the part that says, “Honor thy verbal commitment.” Weis’ pointed comments came because he got burned by four verbals commitments who had a change of heart — two of them the day before they were to sign. Weis then went on to say a bunch of silly stuff that is already irrelevant. He equated a verbal commitment to matrimony, saying that you shouldn’t be looking at other woman if you’re married. He said from now on, he’s going to take a hard stance against kids who want to visit other schools but say they’re going to Notre Dame.
Resolution: I got busted by Charlie Weis. Big blooper. Struck out looking. His hard sell (which includes a contract that verbal commits sign) helped him deliver one of the top recruiting classes last year. Most of the kids who signed were in early and they stayed. Weis has effectively, through his message which is picked up by 12 million media outlets, made the verbal commitment more binding at ND than other schools.
Contact Mike Hutton at 648-3139 or mhutton@post-trib.com

Link

Chris Zorich Loses Hamburger Eating Contest at CJ’s Pub

May 4, 2008 – 1:00 pm
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a Comment

Chris Zorich ended up in the middle of the pack of 11 competitors at CJs Pub by eating 4 miniburgers. Jim Seitz, a JV volleyball coach at Washington High School, came in first by eating 6.

I’m assuming the miniburgers were the size of regular hamburgers, since CJs Pub has some ginormous hamburgers.
Speaking of ginormous, here’s a ginormous jpg of Chris Zorich.

Chris Zorich

Story From WNDU: Link

Cierre Wood Tweaks Hamstring Lunging to Win his 100m Race

May 3, 2008 – 11:55 pm
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a Comment

Cierre Wood tweaked his hamstring Friday, as he lunged to win his 100m race. He did win the race, but was scratched from the 200m race due to his injury.

Link

For more Notre Dame info visit www.ndfootballwiki.com

Fun with Chuck Long’s SDSU Spring Game Presser

May 3, 2008 – 11:26 am
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a Comment

It’s in Chuck’s own words, though I might have omitted a word, a sentence or punctuation here and there. If you want to read the unedited version, it is linked at the bottom of the page.

Chuck Long’s Thoughts on Spring Practice:

“Sometimes I kick guys who are seniors. They think they work hard, but that’s just not the case. These guys didn’t have the work ethic in a big way.”

On what lies ahead for the coaching staff:

“We don’t have a depth chart. I don’t have a quarterback depth chart. I said after the Spring game that I’d have it by the end of the week – might not even happen until fall camp.”

On defensive improvements during spring practice:

“I haven’t been here for practice. I know its a cliché that you always hear, but that’s going to be key in three years.”

On the offense:

“Offensively, we’re working less and less. The spring game was not indicative of anything.”

On special teams:

“Special teams continue to find special teams. Bryan’s alive and that’s saying a lot.”

On whether or not he was surprised Kevin O’Connell was drafted so high in the third round:

“I knew teams would look at him, but I’m surprised.”

On whether any of the three quarterbacks separated themselves during spring practice:

“We didn’t have a lot of them and that’s the way it should be.”

On the improvement of the defensive line:

“It’s one of our most improved units that we have to improve on.”